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Sunday, March 27, 2016

Pope delivers Easter message of hope after grim week of terror

PopeFrancisPope Francis preached an Easter message of hope

after a grim week in Europe, calling on Christians

not to let fear and pessimism "imprison" them.

Speaking amid tight security at the Vatican, the Pope

said: "Let us not allow darkness and fear to distract us

and control our hearts."

His message followed a condemnation on Friday of

the Brussels terror attacks.

Islamist violence is expected to be a prominent

theme of his traditional "Urbi et Orbi" Easter

message.

Many pilgrims cancelled their planned trips to Rome

in the wake of the violence in Brussels, but St Peter's

Basilica in the Vatican was packed when Pope Franciscelebrated mass on Saturday evening.The Pontiff entered a darkened basilica with just a

single candle guiding him. As he reached the altar,

the basilica's floodlights came on to symbolise the

resurrection of Jesus Christ.

Delivering his homily, Francis said: "Today is the

celebration of our hope. It is so necessary today."

The lengthy vigil service also included a papal

baptism for 12 adults hailing from China, South Korea

and other countries around the world.

On Sunday morning, Francis will preside over Easter

Mass and offer his annual Easter blessing.

On Friday, he denounced the "terrorist acts

committed by followers of some religions which

profane the name of God and which use the holy

name to justify their unprecedented violence".

Meanwhile, Vatican officials distributed sleeping bags

to 100 homeless people.

The police presence in the streets around the Vatican

has been stepped up this year, as more pilgrims than

usual are expected after Francis declared a jubilee

year for the Catholic Church, calling it a "Holy Year of

Mercy".

 

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